Question
Who was Jabez?
Answer
The Talmud (Temurah 16a) identifies Jabez with Osniel son of Kenaz (Joshua 15:17; Judges 3:9). In Joshua and Judges he is a warrior, and in 1 Chron. 4:9-10 he is blessed with Divine favor, but 1 Chron. 2:55 implies that he founded a family of scholars, and the Talmud stresses his scholarly achievements (Yoma 80a; Avos de-Rabbi Nasan Ch.35).